Index



932 LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS 1,345,843

INDEX Filed Aug. 28, 1930 Le Roi E.Hu

Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS, OF TONWND, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOB T REMINGION RAND INC., OH BUFIALO,NEW YOBK INDEX Application flled August 28, 1930. Serlal No. 478,511.

This invention relates to a visible index in which a series of index cards are mounted in ofi'set overlapped relation to each other on an index panel.

The invention is particularly adapted fo use for hotel index systems but of course may be used for other purposes where its advan tages are desirable.

An object of the invention is to provide a visible index card of special construction having a pocket in which room slips, or other data cards may be placed in such a manner that the index data thereon is readable at a glance.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a special card holder formed :from a card or sheet having attaching means on one marginal portion for detachably monnting the card holder on an index panel while the remaining portion of the holder is formed With portions having cooperation with portions on a transparent strip or sheet to detachably interlock the transparent strip with the holder to form a pocket for receiving i a record card, the pocket opening toward the free margin of the holder.

Other featurcs of the invention Will appear in the following detailed description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing acoxnplete index panel, a support therefor, and a series of cards in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a single card.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the transparent pocket-foi*ming member.

Each card is identical in form so a description of one Will suffice for all.

A card holder 14 has one marginal portion formed with tongues 16, the inturned portions 17 of which engage under flange por tions 18 of the strip 13. The portions 18 are spaced from the surface of the panel t0 accommodate the portions 17 of tongues 16 to provide for sliding movement of the card holders thGreon. The upper portion 19 of the card holder is free and is provided with acontrastingcolor or shade from the record carde used, a finger notch 20 in the free edge, and slits 21 adjacent the side marginal portions thereof. A transparent pocket-orming member 22 preferably of celluloid overlies part of the upper portion 19 and is formed with reduced portions 23 at the ends adapted to be passed through and closely engage in the slits 21. Extension or cars 24 formed on the portions 23 serve to look the member 22 in the slits 21. The bottom edge of the pocket-forming member is supported by ears 25 formed from the body of the card holder which also prevent a room slip or other record cards from slipping downwardly out of a visible position. Record cards 26 shown in Fig. 1, are held in the pockets formed by the card holder and member 22. These cards 26 have their 11 per edges ter minating at the upper free ege of the card holder as shown in order to have the index thereon in visible position.

'When the card holders are mounted on the retaining strip 13 the tongues engage under the flanges 18 and the lower edge of one card holder enga es the shoulders 27 of the next adjacent car so that the card holders Will lie in offset overlapping relation. The free marginal portion of each card holder is visible for visibly indexing the rec ord cards, and the distance between the shoulders 27 and the adjacent edge of the card holder determines the width of the visible margin. It Will be noted that the edge of the transparent strip adjacent the free edge of the card holder is spaced from the edge of the card holder an amount substantially equal to the width of the visible margin whereby the overlying card Will conceal notch.

This card holder provides a structure in which the record cards or slips may be easily removed and replaced which is a frequent necessity in using*the holders for a hotel room index, and the contrasting color between the holder and record card readfly signals the position of holders from which the record slips or cards have been removed.

The transparentstrip is easily attached or* detaehed from the card holder and when attached is firmly interlocked with the holder without additional connecting means and the special form of both the holder and transparent slip provides an economical structure for manufacture and assembly.

What is claimed is: 7

1. An index card holder formed with supporting means on one marginal portiop adapted to engage a retaining member on an index panel and space a series of card holders in offset overlapping relation with the other marginal portion of each card holder in visible relation, and a poeket-orming member overlying one face and attached to a portion of the card holder spaced from said other marginal portion and cooperating with the card holder toreceive a record card.

2. An index card formed with guide-engaging members adapted to slidably engage a guide member of an index panel, a transparent pocket-forming member overlying a portion of said card and provided with attaching ears, slots formed adjacent the margins of the last-mentioned portion adapted to receive said ars and means engaging the bottom edge of the transparent pocket member to form a bottom for the-pocket provided between the card and pocket member. v

3. In combination, an index panel pro- Vided with a guide member, a pluralitypf prising a sheet having attaching means pro- Vided on one marginal portion for detachable engagement With a support and having a finger notch formed in the opposite marginal portion, a transparent strip overlying one face of said sheet between said notch and said means, cooperating means at the ends of said strip and the adjacent portions of said sheet detachably connecting said strip to said sheet and tongues formed in said sheet overlying the edge of said strip opposite said notch, whereby said sheet and strip Cooperate to form a pocket therebetween closed on three sides and open on the side adjacent said notch.

6. A card holder for record cards, comprising a sheet having attaching means provided on one marginal portion for detachable engagement with a support and having a finger notch formed in the opposite marginal portion, a pocket member overlying L one face of the sheet and spaced from said other marginal portion, cooperating means on the pocket member and the sheet t0 detachably eonnect the same to form a pocket therebetween, and a record card mounted in said pocket and having a portion protruding therefrom and overlying said opposite marginal portion and the finger notch therein.

LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS.

index cards formed with guide-engag1ng portions slidably mounting said cards on the panel in offset overlapped relation, a marginal portion on each card being in visible index relation, a strip on one face of each card, and means for detachably connecting the ends and one edge of the strip to the card to form a pocket between the card and strip.

4. In combination, an index panel pro- Vided with a guide memlber, a plurality of index cards formd with guide-engaging portions slidably mounting said cards on the panel in ofiset overlapped relation, a free Visible marginal portion on eaeh card being formed with a finger notch, a transparent pocket member mounted below the finger notch and overlying one side of said card, means for detachably connecting the pocket 

